FILMI ESCAPES in KARNATAKA MOVIES • CULTURE • LOCATIONS This guide is researched and written by Shruti Indira Lakshminarayana Contents Foreword ..................................................................................... 4 Karnataka Calling.......................................................................6 Bengaluru, Mysuru & Around .................................................. 10 Expert Recommendation......................................................... 32 Coorg, Chikkamagaluru & Hassan. ........................................ 34 Expert Recommendation........................................................ 50 Best of Karnataka ....................................................................52 Index ................................................................................... 60 Acknowledgements ............................................................62 4 PLAN YOUR TRIP LIGHTS, CAMERA, AcTION AND TRAVEL 5 FOREWORD Mysuru and its surrounds like Mandya and Srirangapatna are a food Lights, Camera, Action and Travel lover’s paradise, and are also home to pilgrimage and heritage sites and green spaces. The view from the top of Chamundi Hills, where the Sri SHIVARAJKUMAR Chamundeshwari Temple is located, offers splendid panoramas of the city. The climb up the hill is a photographer’s delight. You can spot both nature Travel inspires movies, and movies inspire lovers and fitness enthusiasts around the Kukkarahalli Kere Lake, which also travel. And that’s why popular films, shot in has a jogger’s track. The regal majesty of the Mysore Palace that I visited after watching the film Mayura (1975), will leave you impressed. For a vibrant beautiful locales across Karnataka, set serious experience, though, visit the palace during the Dasera festivities in autumn. travel goals. Iconic Kannada, Bollywood and international movies have made the St Mary’s Island in Udupi and the Sigandur Temple, which can be reached by taking a boat ride on the backwaters of the Sharavati, are scenic spots that state a hub for travellers seeking interesting you can see in films like America America (1995) and Kavacha (2019). For destinations. my father, however, Muthathi, where we shot together for Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988), remained an all-time favourite location. In fact, he got the Travelling is not only among the biggest perks of being an actor but an name Mutthuraju from the Muthathi temple deity. integral part of my career. Karnataka has something for everyone and is extremely camera friendly. Even in this age of CGI domination, nothing can Turn the pages of this book and journey through the many worlds, both on ever match the beauty that awaits you at the actual locations. From David celuloid and in real life, that Karnataka offers the traveller in you. Lean’s Passage to India and Jackie Chan’s The Myth, Karnataka has long been a part of celluloid magic. The writer is a leading Kannada film actor. Hit Kannada films have helped transform many hidden travel gems A scene from Kavacha captures the rustic charms of Karnataka into popular tourist destinations. Yana in Uttara Kannada, which was an unexplored destination, became an incredibly popular tourist spot following the release of Nammoora Mandara Hoove (1997). Parts of my father, Dr Rajkumar’s film, Ondu Muttina Kathe (1987) were also filmed in Yana. I had visited the sets to meet the renowned Shankar Nag, the director. The trek to Yana was strenuous, and my father decided to spend the night in the caves where they were shooting instead of going back. It was a chilly night, but we made the most of it by talking the night away over over a satisfying menu of local delicacies. Food is a big part of any travel experience, and I cultivated my taste for local cuisine with my father. He was, in fact, partial to food prepared in small local eateries and hotels. He felt that the firewood and manual stone grinders used to prepare dishes gave them their distinct flavour. His weakness was the dosa and coconut chutney in Mahadevpura near Mysuru, which was a must-have whenever he was filming there. This apart, Hanumanthu Hotel’s mutton pulav, dosa from Mylari or the well- blended, spicy sambar served in Mysuru, were all distinct tastes and aromas he enjoyed. 6 PLAN YOUR TRIP KARNATAKA CALLING 7 Karnataka Calling Karnataka’s varied topography of hills and valleys, beaches and heritage sites is as much a star in Kannada films as any of its actors. The scenic destinations in the state have inspired Indian and international filmmakers as well. Movie-inspired tourism is here to stay, and you can find both the adventure of travel and the magic of movies in Karnataka. TRAVELS WITH KANNADA FILMS In the late 1960s, director Puttana Kanagal (p18) first took Kannada films out of the studios and set them in inspiring locales. Samskara (1970), in which playwright, theatre and film actor Girish Karnad acted was shot in and around the temple town, Sringeri, in the Western Ghats and remains a travel hotspot. The hit television series Malgudi Days (1987) was filmed A heritage walk with ‘Golden Star’ Ganesh in ‘99 in Agumbe (p47). Jog Falls nearby, featured in Jeevana Chaitra (1992) and Mungaru Male (2006), showed the falls from an aerial view for the first time LOCATION GOALS in Kannada films. Janumada Jodi (1996) was set in Mahadevpura near Mysuru. The film was such a massive hit that industry insiders called it a lucky charm for Girish Kasaravalli, a giant of Kannada cinema, set his films in beautiful movies. Sunil Kumar Desai’s Namoora Mandara Hoove (1997), Nagathihalli locations. Ghatashraddha (1977) was set in Theerthahalli, Dweepa (2002) Chandrashekar’s America America (1995), Rajendra Singh Babu Bandhana had the River Sharavati as the backdrop, Gulabi Talkies (2008) was filmed in (1984) ), Sheshadri’s Bettada Jeeva (2011), and Yograj Bhat’s Mungaru Male coastal Karnataka and Thayi Saheba (1997) in Rabakavi. (2006) all featured Karnataka’s inspiring travel locations. Bayalu Daari (1976), Paramathma (2011), Antha (1981) and Sharapanjara (1971) showed Dweepa is set by the River Sharavati the beauty of Chikkamagaluru (p34), Sakleshpur (p36) and Coorg (p32). Heritage sites in Hampi, Badami caves were the settings for Belli Kaalungura (1992) and Veera Madakari (2009); Mysuru, Chamundi Hills, KRS royal palace were used in Nenapirali (2005) and Mayura (1975); and Karnataka’s sanctuaries and waterfalls can be spotted in films like Nagarahole (1977) and Mynaa (2013). Uttara Kannada has been featured in films like Mastigudi (2017) and Raate (2015). Last but not the least, the capital Bengaluru (p12) has been a backdrop for many Kannada hits including Pallavi Anupallavi (1983), U-Turn (2016) and Anand (1986). TRAVELLING TASTES While many of the stars of ‘Sandalwood’ or Kannada film world are ardent foodies (p28), food-themed films like Oggarane (2014) have paid homage to its rich cuisine. Traditional eateries and historic cafes and smart restaurants add to Karnataka’s culinary variety. 8 PLAN YOUR TRIP NEED TO KNOW 9 Need to Know best weather to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. You will need a light jacket or shawl as nights can get chilly. April – May (low season): Even in these warmest months, the hilly areas are pleasant to visit. You can avail of good offers if you book early. June – September (mid-season): During the monsoons. the incessant rains may curtail sightseeing, but you can enjoy the scenic landscapes from the comfort of a resort. ACCOMMODATION & EATING Accommodation: Ranges used in the book: ``` over `5000; `` between `2000–5000; ` under `2000 Eating: Ranges used in the book include: ``` over `500; `` between `200–500; ` under `200 Quick Facts LANGUAGES The main language spoken in Karnataka is Kannada, but travellers can get around easily with Hindi and English. Tamil and Malayalam from neighbouring states are also spoken. MONEY Karnataka offers many camera-friendly spots for moviemakers ATMs of major private and state-owned banks can be found in the cities, but if you’re travelling to the smaller towns and villages, it is recommended WHEN TO GO you carry cash as ATMs may be available in a few hubs only. Most hotels October – March (high season): The coolest months are the best to explore allow card payment, and it’s best to book ahead. the state, with moderate temperatures in the range of 11°C–28°C. It is the INTERNET ACCESS Mid to high-end hotels offer free wi-fi with varying degrees of speed and efficacy. In remote locations, the hotels and guesthouses may not provide Invitation to filmmakers Internet access. MOBILE CONNECTIVITY According to the Karnataka Film Tourism Policy, 2018, the state has Providers such as Airtel, Vodafone and Jio offer 3G and 4G services announced financial assistance to filmmakers whose work highlight the throughout the state, except in remote locations where the signal may be tourist destinations across the state. The idea is to encourage filmmakers weak and sporadic. to use popular tourist hubs as filming locations and highlight the culture TOURIST INFORMATION and heritage of 319 designated tourism destinations across Karnataka. Registered tourism offices are all over the state, with the main ones in Care will be taken to ensure that sensitive areas like sanctuaries and Bengaluru: The Department of Tourism (the Government of Karnataka) heritage monuments remain protected. and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. Visit www. karnatakatourism.org and www.kstdc.co for more details. 10 BEST TRIPS BENGALURU, MYSURU & AROUND 11 BENGALURU,